Bat-commentary - Batman 687

This book really is going to have a different tone from Batman and Robin, isn't it? I expect I'll be reading B&R first, because it strikes me as more of a fun read, but I do plan to keep getting this one, at least for a while.

I think the treatment of Dick's hesitation in taking on the cowl was presented well. I'm not a huge Dick Grayson fan, but he is growing on me.

Actually I'm considering getting the trade. Because I'm considering switching just about all of my books to "waiting for the trade" status. But not quite yet.

Bat-commentary - Streets of Gotham 1

This may turn out to be one of my favorites among the new Bat-books, surprisingly. I really want to know what happens next issue now!

As for the secondary feature, I really don't know much about Manhunter other than what I've seen of her in Birds of Prey, but this looks all right.

Bat-commentary - Batman and Robin 1

Um, holy crap--the villain here is absolutely chilling.

That last page pretty much drove out anything else I had to say about this book. Ew.

Bat-commentary - Gotham City Sirens 1

Decent read featuring two of my favorites (and I like Catwoman well enough, too). Harley is practically perfect, and Ivy isn't bad either. Actually, this would even be a decent intro to both characters for a new reader in that their dynamic is made clear very quickly.

I also got a huge kick out of the new villain trying to make a name for himself. Presumably this is the last we see of Boneblaster.

Also got a chuckle out of "The Broker." Not that I've ever really wondered where supervillains get their nifty hideouts, but this was still a fun bit.

One to keep getting.

Bat-commentary - Detective 854

I will confess it: although I liked Batwoman from the start, I probably mostly liked her for her design. You know, because we really didn't have a lot of other info about her other than her connection with Renee Montoya.

Now, with the revamped Batwoman, that's changed.

As in, I like her more now.

I still like her design--again, I like it more with the awesome new boots with the grippy soles.

I like it that her "Alfred" is her father; they seem to have a good relationship, which is also a plus in this world of superheroes who don't get along with their parents.

Decent story, intriguing, creepy villain, good read.

The Question feature also shows some promise.

This one is a keep-getting-it.

Still reading, will post...soon.

Still reading those Nightwing trades! And maybe it's the mix I picked up, but I am not finding that things are made more clear by reading them so far.

Too busy!

Can't write, am in the middle of reading a stack of Nightwing trades.

Namor is my favorite!

The newest Dark Avengers preview has, in fact, a very, very nice Namor moment.

Doom wishes he could be that cool.

I want this, but somehow I don't think it's meant for me

I'm kind of looking forward to the upcoming Psylocke mini.

I liked the original conception of Psylocke a lot. I was less fond of the current design, not because of the design itself but because of the personality shift that seemed to follow. (Not that that wouldn't be an unreasonable response to trauma...)

However, the mini will not be the original Psylocke:

And while some fans may hold allegiance to the character's original form, Yost and editor Daniel Ketchum agreed that Fraction and Land's use of the Asian version made the most sense. "She definitely is going back to her ninja assassin look," he said, citing J. Scott Campbell's variant for "Uncanny #510" as a prime example of Psylocke. "We tend to think of that as what people identify as the definitive Psylocke. I still kind of like the light pink butterfly Psylocke here and there, but I think for most modern readers Psylocke is that person.

which I suppose (along with the choice of artist) indicates the intended audience for the book. :)

Of course these days I don't read the X-books. And while I retain a fondness for Betsy, I don't like her nearly well enough to get back into that mess.

But I will probably get the mini, probably wait until the trade.

Saw this up for an upcoming mini about the Rikki Barnes character, who is apparently going by the name of "Nomad," which is kind of neat.

I'll wait for the trade on this one, I think, but I will get it.

Captain America thoughts

I've been seeing all this hype about Captain America: Rebirth. Which, I like Captain America, and likely would have gotten this anyway, so fine. I'm actually not convinced that it is in fact the return of Steve Rogers that's being heralded (and if it isn't, I anticipate a great deal of fan whining).

If it is, that's cool. I like Steve Rogers and have missed seeing him around. And to be honest, while I'm sure that the intention is that "Dark Reign" is at least in part supposed to be what happens to the Marvel Universe when Captain America is gone, I'm really not seeing that in the comics I'm reading. Although I'm not intrigued enough by Dark Reign that I'll be at all sad to see it go, you know?

And while I've seen concern elsewhere about what will happen to Bucky Barnes, the current Captain America, when the "real" Cap returns...to be honest, while I love the title and what's been done with the character, I think that the interesting part of Bucky becoming Cap has pretty much been done now. He's gained some comfort in the role and some acceptance by the hero community. The transition is nearly over.

But as far as just seeing Captain America in action every month, really, I'd rather see Steve.

And I'd rather see Bucky as himself.

More stuff to carry home.

We're on our annual vacation now, and as usual we took an afternoon to visit all the reasonably-local comic shops we could find in the phone book. We had a list of six.

Two were closed. By which I mean, there were no longer comic shops at those addresses--the stores are gone.

The others were lovely.

One where I found a Deathstroke action figure (on sale!).

One where I found a copy of the Secret Six mini in trade form, and mumblemumble different Nightwing trades. The fourteen-year-old found an action figure of the Joker from (I think) Killing Joke--it's the one where he's in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and she's been admiring it from afar for a while now.

One where I picked up the trade of Brubaker's Catwoman.

And one where I found some minimates for the ten-year-old. (She hasn't seen them yet, she's been playing Rock Band with her cousin.)

All good.

No title today, I'm too tired to think!

You know, I just realized--yesterday I mentioned that Secret Six had supplanted Captain America as my favorite title, the one I always read first when the Big Box O Comics arrives.

But I'm not sure whether that means that I'm enjoying Secret Six a little bit more these days, or enjoying Captain America a little bit less these days. SS has been consistently good from the onset. CA has as well, although I think that #50 and #600 have provided a sort of lull. But I think it's actually more the latter than the former.

I think it's possible that I'm finding BuckyCap a little less interesting now that he's more of a part of the established superhero community. That's weird, isn't it?

I think it is official

My favorite comic book is now Secret Six.

This means that it has taken over the number one slot occupied by Captain America for the last several years.

They're not at all similar, as comics go, but they do have one thing in common: the ability to get me to read one, then spend the next month wondering what's going to happen next.

Do not want

You know, I know that every comic book character is somebody's favorite. And I know that "favorite" is a most subjective term.

But you know, I never really understood the need for the new Justice League of America title to start out with a focus on the Red Tornado. I don't dislike the guy, but he kind of leaves me cold. (Perhaps because I grew up reading about the Vision in the Avengers who IMO had the same routine only did it far more compellingly. Personal opinion, of course.) So, while there are a number of reasons why I didn't keep getting the JLA book, one of them was, in fact, that the first story arc featured someone I have always found dull as dust.

But, you know, different tastes.

However, I completely fail to see the need for a Red Tornado mini. Except that it's easier for the non-fan to avoid, which is a plus. :)

Here she is...

Preview up for the Miss America Special.

I first encountered Miss America in, I think, the 1970s, when her husband the Whizzer appeared in the Avengers comic. At the time the two of them were being presented as possible parents for Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch; Miss America was no longer alive at that point, and the Whizzer was an old man, and it turned out that they had no relation to Wanda and Pietro at all. One thing I recall thinking was neat about her was that she wore glasses--while in costume! That was something you never saw back then.

There's something I'm wondering about, though--although the cover for this comic is excellent, very much in the spirit of the war-era Timely titles, why is the Miss America pictured on it a glasses-less blonde? The Miss America in the story looks as she should, what's with the cover?

Wondering what I'll be buying a year from now

This preview of Streets of Gotham looks decent.

I'm not sure how long this premise will support an ongoing title, though.

And never say maybe, because THIS happens.

Are Marvel divas just fanboy fantasies?

Still thinking of trying this one, but not really expecting a lot at this point.

Never say never, because THIS happens

You know, I'd seen the first mention of an upcoming Magog title from DC, and I'd pretty much figured it was something I'd never have to worry about spending money on.

And maybe that's still true.

But upon hearing that Keith Giffen is the writer, I might have to at least give it a look. No promises, mind you, but now it's a "hey, I'll think about it" instead of a "what, are you kidding?"

Note to self

Pick up a copy of R.E.B.E.L.S. when it comes out in trade.

Obviously

I'm going to be getting the Batman and Robin title, although I haven't seen it yet (damn you, monthly comic book delivery!), but I hadn't been all that excited about it.

This preview of the cover to #4, however, looks potentially interesting.

The obvious assumption is that this "New Red Hood" is Jason Todd. Now, I was already burned once by trying to out-clever the solicitations and guessing that the third Batman in BftC couldn't be him because it was too obvious, so I won't say that this time. But, you know, it really is too obvious. :)

Super-family values

You know, this would actually be okay!

I haven't read the Isaiah Bradley Cap story yet, but I'm intrigued by the possibility of rejuvenating him--not because we need another Captain America (although, you know, the more the merrier I guess), but because I'd love to see him interact with the Young Avengers and his grandson, Patriot, who has grown up with only stories of his grandfather's heroism. It'd be awesome to see them working together, even in a one-shot.

In which I discover how typical I am

Interesting article up at Comic Book Resources about the cancellation of Captain Britain and MI-13.

And, in reading it, I had to agree with something the article said: Captain Britain, the character, tends to be a bit dull. An effort was made in this series to provide him a weak area--having his power dependent on confidence (making him the "Little Superhero That Could," I suppose)--which I think had potential but isn't really the most fascinating of fatal flaws.

But even at that, Brian Braddock came off as a touch thick, and Cornell might've been better served by overtly demonstrating why Captain Britain – all the characters, really – were worthy of special attention this time around. At minimum, if you're going to name a book after someone he ought at least be presented as the central figure.

And I have to admit that I wouldn't buy a Captain Britain title if he was the only one in the book. Possibly not even if he was just the main focus of the book. (Nothing against British heroes, I'd buy a Union Jack book in a flash!) The supporting cast was what got me throwing my cash at them.

Just one problem that's rarely mentioned: as a rule, superhero fans hate magic.

I have to admit that this, too, probably applies to me. I enjoyed the stories in CB&MI13, but at the back of my mind there was always this sense that this was all right, but I'd be glad when something more mundane was happening in the book. :) I don't mind magic in my comic books, but I don't like comic books about magic, if you see what I mean. I always thought it was just me. Apparently not--apparently I'm just part of some greater trend (sigh).

So who says comics aren't expensive?

This preview of the Marvel Superhero Squad game is going to force me to get a Wii, isn't it?

Further grumbling about canceled comic books

Just read the most recent Captain Britain and MI-13, and wanted to reiterate my disappointment in Marvel for canceling this book. You can put out and maintain four damn Avengers titles (which, admittedly, I also buy) but you can't let us have this one wonderful, charming little book?

I'll really miss seeing Spitfire on a regular basis.

How. Cool. Is this?

Imagine my thrilled-ness to see this: The Torch, a new mini featuring original Human Torch Jim Hammond.

I've had a great fondness for the original Torch ever since I was a teenager reading The Invaders, where he soon became one of my favorite parts of that book. I also enjoyed him in the more recent New Invaders, and thought it was a great loss when they killed him off there.

So yeah, that's the good news of the day around here!

Astonishing reaction from Brainfreeze

Just read Captain America 50.

And I know this is only because it was an anniversary issue, which tend to be content-free.

But, for the first time ever, a Brubaker Cap book makes me go "meh."

Oh, but there was Hembeck! That alone made it worth buying!

Hoping for better next month. Oh, wait, next month is #600. Hoping for better in two months.

My favorite comic--it really is that simple.

You know, I can talk a lot about what comics I enjoy, what comics I don't, what comics are on thin ice when it comes to staying on my pull list.

But what it comes down to is this.

When the new Big Box O' Comics has arrived and I only have a few minutes to read one of them, which one do I pick?

And the answer to that question is Secret Six.

More Batwoman

There's an article up at Newsarama about Batwoman's new look in Detective Comics.

Actually, I always kind of liked the character and her look, but getting rid of the high heels is a definite plus.

Coolness!

The preview is up for the Young Allies book.

Looks decent!